Background: Plasma membrane fluidity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) was investigated in 10 allergic asthmatic children before and after oxatomide treatment.
Methods: Membrane fluidity was studied by measuring the steady state fluorescence anisotropy of 1-(4-trimethylammoniumphenyl)-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH) incorporated into polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) plasma membranes.
Results: There was an increase in membrane fluidity at the surface of PMN from asthmatic children. Oxatomide treatment significantly decreased PMN membrane fluidity.
Conclusions: These data suggest that oxatomide may induce changes in the physicochemical properties of the PMN plasma membrane in asthmatic subjects. These changes may modify the functional activities of PMN.

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Background: Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, which play a role in the production of allergic inflammation, can activate fibroblasts to elicit a variety of cellular functions. However, the effect of IL-4 and IL-13 on fibronectin production by human lung fibroblasts (HLF) has not been determined. In the present study, we examined the effect of IL-4 and IL-13 on fibronectin production by HLF in order to clarify these issues.
Methods: We stimulated HLF with various concentrations of IL-4 and IL-13 for 12, 24, 48 and 72 h and fibronectin concentrations in the culture supernatants were determined by ELISA.
Results: The results showed that IL-4 and IL-13 induced fibronectin production in a time- and a concentration-dependent manner. Anti-transforming growth factor (TGF)-β₁ antibody (ab) inhibited TGF-β₁-induced fibronectin production but not IL-4- and IL-13-induced fibronectin production, indicating that TGF-β₁ is not involved in the IL-4- and IL-13-induced fibronectin production by HLF.
Conclusions: These results indicate that IL-4 and IL-13 are capable of inducing fibronectin production by HLF and play an important role in the production of airway remodeling by inducing fibronectin production as well as allergic inflammation.

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Background: Previous studies have reported cross-reactivity between latex and grass allergens. Inhibition studies have indicated cross-reactivity of IgE with latex and grass pollen proteins. A panel consisting of a few recombinant allergens, namely rPhI p 1, rPhl p 2, rPhl p 5 and profilin, was sufficient to diagnose grass pollen allergy in patients allergic to grass pollen.
Methods: Serum samples from 528 consecutive outpatients with IgE antibodies towards at least one allergen (IgE level > 0.35 kAU/L) were selected for this retrospective study. Total and specific serum IgE to rPhl p 1, rPhl p 2, rPhl p 5, rBet v 1, rBet v 2, latex, birch, hazel, mugwort, wall pellitory, Dermatophagoides pteronissinus, Alternaria tenuis, cat and apple were measured by the immunoenzymatic capsulated hydrophilic carrier polymer (CAP) FEIA system (Pharmacia & Upjohn).
Results: Of 123 polysensitized patients with antilatex Ig1E, 12 (9.76%) had symptoms after latex exposure. Ten of 12 subjects monosensitized to latex had symptoms after latex exposure. Symptomatic patients had higher IgE levels to latex than symptomless patients (P = 0.046). A higher prevalence of antilatex IgE was seen in sera containing specific IgE to rPhl p 1, rPhl p 5 and rBet v 2. A good correlation (Spearman's r = 0.52; P = 0.001) between high levels of antilatex IgE and total serum IgE was found.
Conclusions: The findings of the present study may support the concept that a high proportion of sera containing IgE to rBet v 2, rPhl p 1 and rPhl p 5 simultaneously contain antilatex IgE. Therefore, patients with specific IgE to these recombinant allergens with no history of current latex exposure may need additional evaluation.

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Background: In the present study, we investigated the effect of social isolation stress on IgE-mediated triphasic cutaneous reactions after 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) challenge in male BALB/c mice passively sensitized with anti-dinitrophenol (DNP) IgE antibody, and examined the effects of Yokukan-san (a Kampo medicine with antipsychotic action) and a reference drug (diazepam) on the stress-enhanced cutaneous reaction.
Methods/Results: In response to challenge with 0.01, 0.025 and 0.05% DNFB, triphasic skin reactions, including an immediate-phase response (IPR), a late-phase response (LPR) and a very late-phase response (vLPR) at 1 and 24 h and 8 days after antigen challenge, respectively, were increased in socially isolated mice compared with group-housed mice. Oral administration of Yokukan-san attenuated the isolation stress-exacerbated triphasic skin reactions in a dose-dependent manner, whereas it had no significant effect on cutaneous reactions in the unstressed group-housed mice. In contrast, intraperitoneal administration of diazepam, a classic benzodiazepine receptor agonist, suppressed the enhanced IPR and LPR in socially isolated mice but, surprisingly, stimulated vLPR in both stressed and unstressed mice, showing different efficacy to Yokukan-san. Moreover, the elevated locomotor activity in socially isolated mice was reduced by Yokukan-san and diazepam, while the isolation stress-induced aggressive behavior was normalized only by diazepam and not by Yokukan-san.
Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that IgE-mediated triphasic cutaneous reactions were exacerbated by social isolation stress and suggest that Yokukan-san and diazepam antagonize isolation stress-induced cutaneous reactions partly through their sedative action on social isolation stress.

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Background: It is a well-known fact that IgE is a key substance that induces an allergic reaction in extravascular tissue. However, it remains to be elucidated how IgE in the circulating blood transfers to the site of the allergic reaction in the extravascular tissue. In the present paper, rat IgE passage through cultured rat aortic endothelial cells (RAEC) was first examined using a dual-chamber system. Second, we examined the effects of histamine, which is thought to affect endothelial permeability, on IgE passage through the RAEC in comparison with the effects of albumin and IgG2a.
Methods: The permeability constant (PC) was used to evaluate the degree of IgE passage through the RAEC.
Results: The value of the PC for rat IgE (0.58 ± 0.11 × 10^-5 cm/s) was lower than that for IgG2a and albumin (0.88 ± 0.28 × 10^-5 and 0.93 ± 0.26 × 10^-5 cm/s, respectively) under conditions of non-exposure to histamine. In contrast, the PC of rat IgE was significantly increased by exposure to histamine (10^-10 mol/L) at 12 h after exposure. However, the PC for IgG2a and albumin were not significantly increased following exposure to histamine. The enhancement by histamine of IgE passage through the RAEC was not inhibited by diphenhydramine, a histamine H₁ receptor antagonist, but were inhibited by cimetidine, a histamine H₂ receptor antagonist.
Conclusions: On the basis of results from the present study, histamine, acting via H₂ receptors, enhances the permeability of rat IgE across the RAEC mono-layer. The increased permeability of endothelial cells induced by histamine may contribute greatly to the transfer of IgE from circulating blood to extravascular tissue.

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Background: A case in which a 45-year-old female patient with peritonitis experienced immediate-type hypersensitivity on two occasions after administration of preparations containing six different medications was referred to us for closer inspection.
Methods/Results: Skin tests performed on the six medications revealed a positive reaction to the vitamin B₆ preparation Biosechs (Wakamoto Pharmaceutical, Tokyo, Japan). Further investigation showed that the principal ingredient, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), produced a positive reaction, whereas the injection solvent with the principal ingredient removed produced a negative reaction. When compounds similar to PLP were tested, pyridoxine (PN), pyridoxamine and pyridoxal produced a negative reaction, whereas pyridoxine 5'-phosphate and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate (PMP) produced a positive reaction. Adenosine 2'-phosphate and adenosine 5'-diphosphate were also tested and these produced a negative reaction. When a histamine-release test was performed, PLP and PMP produced a positive reaction, whereas PN produced a negative reaction. When all tests were performed on three control subjects, the results were all negative.
Conclusions: In this very rare case, phosphate radical conjugates with a pyridine nucleus became haptenic-epitope and an immediate-type reaction occurred. In past cases involving hypersensitivity to vitamin B₆, two cases involved a photoallergic reaction caused by PN and one case involved an immediate-type hypersensitivity caused by PLP. In the past cases, closely related substances had not been tested and an epitope was not identified.

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Background: he purpose of the present study was to compare mold specific IgE results with skin test and exposure data, as well as in relation to asthma and other allergic manifestations.
Methods: We performed skin prick tests (SPT) to 13 molds in 341 children from six schools and studied the microbial status of all school buildings. Subsequently, mold specific IgE was measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to 10 molds in 31 of those chil-dren with a positive (≥3 mm) or weak SPT reaction (1-2 mm) and in 62 age- and sex-matched controls with no such reactions.
Results: Mold-specific IgE was elevated by EIA (> 0.35 IU/mL) to at least one of the 10 studied species in 12 children (39%) with and in two children (3%) without skin test reactions. The calculated prevalence of elevated mold-specific IgE was 5% in the non-selected and 10% in children selected by respiratory morbidity. Six children had IgE to the dampness-indicative mold Aspergillus fumigatus, five children had IgE to the common outdoor mold Cladosporium herbarum and four children had IgE to the uncommon, but highly allergenic, indoor mold Rhizopus nigricans. All 14 children who had elevated IgE to molds were boys, 13 had atopy by skin tests and 12 had either asthma or had wheezed. However, no species-specific association was found between IgE or SPT responses and exposure to molds.
Conclusions: Mold allergy, as assessed by IgE measurements or skin tests, is rare in children. School-aged asthmatic boys having exposed to indoor air dampness seem to form a susceptible group for mold allergy, being at risk for worsening of their asthma.

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